Dental-floss holder



l L. J. HOGARTY. DENTAL FLOSS HOLDER. APPLICATION min AUG. 16, 1920.

Patented Feb. 15, 1921.

/NvE/v rol? Lfq. d Hoa-APW WIr/vfssfs A TTU/MIE YS UNITED STATES LEO JOSEPH HOGARTY, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

DENTAL-FLOSS HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 15, 1921.

Application filed August 16, 1920. Serial No. 403,969.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Lno J HOGARTY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Dental-F loss Holder, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descrip tion.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved dental floss holder for professional or personal use and arranged to enable the user to quickly place a piece of dental floss in stretched position on the holder and to allo1 of readily removing the piece of dental floss after use.

Another object is to permit the user to readily remove extraneous matter from between adjacent teeth or to apply a ligature or to perform other dental operations without requiring passing of the fingers into the mouth.

Another object is to permit of conveniently placing the parts of the holder into extended osition ready for use or into folded posltion to allow of conveniently carrying the holder about in a vest pocket or other receptacle.

Another object is to accommodate a coil of dental floss, thus rendering the holder serviceable for a considerable length of time githout .requiring renewal of the dental oss.

With these and other objects in view, the invention, consists of certain novel features ef construction, as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed, out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this speclficationnin lwhich similar characters of reference 1ndicate corresponding parts 'in all the views.

y Figure 1 is an enlarged sectional side elenation of the improved dental floss holder virith the parts in folded position;

dilig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with the parts in extended osition;

Eig. 3 is an enlarg side elevation of the upper portion of the stem on the handle;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the dental floss guide;

Fig. 5 is an inverted plan view of the same;

Fig. 6 is a sectional side elevation of a modified form of the dental fioss holder more especially designed for professional use; and

Fig. 7 is a plan View of the same.

The handle 10 of the dental floss holder illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 is provided at cnc endwith a stem or shank 11 terminating at its outer end in a head 12 and a neck 13 with a slot 14 extending diametrically across the head, as plainly indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. By the arrangement described one end of a piece of dental {ioss 15 can be readily attached to the head 12 and neck 13 by passing the dental floss through the slot 14 and wrap ing it once or twice around the neck 13 see Fig. 2). The other end of the piece of dental floss .15 1s adapted to be engaged with a retain ing means 20 formed on the outer end vof an arm 21 adapted to engage with its other end either one of two sockets 22 or 23 formed in the handle 10 adjacent the base of the stem or shank 11. The socket 22 is at an angle to the axis of the stem 11, the axis also coinciding with that of the handle 10, and the other socket 23 is parallel to the axis of the stem 11. It will be noticed that when the arm 21 is in engagement with. the socket 22 it extends at an angle to the stem 11 and hence the retaining means 20 is located opposite the head 12 and is spaced a desired distance from the same to hold thepiece of dental floss 15 in stretched position between the outer ends of the stem 11 and the arm 21 (see Fig. 2). The retaining means 20 is preferably 1n the form dental floss around the angular portion 25 with the terminal of the piece clamped between the return bent member 24and the angular end 25. It will be noticed that when the piece of dental oss 15 is in stretched position on the stem 11 and the arm 21-it can be readily passed between ad-l jacent teeth for removing extraneous matter or for applying a ligature or for performing other dental operations. After use the ieee of dental Hess 15 can be readily remove from the stem 11 and the arm 21 and thrown away. When the holder is not in use, the arm 21 is disengaged from the socket 22 and engaged withthev socket 23 to extend approximately parallel to the stem 11 to permit of conveniently inclosing the stem and the arm within a ca 30 adapted to be slipped over the stem en of the handle 10, as plainly shown in Fig. 1. When the holder is in use the cap 30 is placed on the other end of the handle, as shown in he handle 10 is provided with a hollow portion 40, the bottom of which is provided with a tapped hole 41 into which screws the threaded end 42 of a spindle 43 around which is wrapped a large amount of dental floss 44. The free end of this dental Hess 44 extends through a central aperture 45 formed in a guide 46 removably fitted in the upper end of the tubular portion 40. The outer end of the dental oss 44 is adapted to be passed into a slot 46 leading to a neck 47 formed exteriorly on the guide 46. By the arrangement described the outer end of the dental fioss 44 is held in position to permit the user to readily take hold of this end and to draw it out of the slot 46 to pull a desired length of floss oil the spindle 43 for forming the piece of dental floss 15 to be used at the time on the stem 11 and the arm 21. The sharp edge of either Wall of the slot 46 at the neck 47 provides a cuttin means for cutting ofi' a piece of dental oss after the desired length is drawn out.

In the modified form shown in Fi s. 6 and .7, the tubular handle 50 is provide with a tubular stem or shank 51 for the passage of dental floss 52 unwinding from a spindle 53 havi a threaded end 54 screwing into a plug 55 held in the open end of the handle 50. The stem 51 has a head 60, a neck 61 and a slot 62, the same as the stem 11, for attachin the floss 53 to the stem after a desired length has been pulled out. The handle 50 is provided with angular and parallel sockets 63 and 64, similar to the sockets 22 and 23, for the reception of an arm 65 similar to the arm 21 and provided with retaining means 66 for engagement by the outerend of the pulled out piece of floss to hold that piece stretched between the stem 51 and the arm 65, as plainly shown in Fig. 6. A cap 70 is used on either end of the handle 50, the same as above described in reference to the cap 30 and the handle 10.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by the arrangement described a piece of floss can be readll placed in stretc ed. position on the stem 1 and arm 21 or the stem 51 and the arm 65 to allow of usin such piece of iioss between adjacent teeth or cleanin or other purposes. It will also be notice that the parts can be readily Ymoved into extended or folded position and when in folded position the holder takes up very little room to allow of conveniently carrying the same in a vest pocket or other receptacle. It will also be noticed; that a large amount of dental Boss is provided to permit of using the holder for a considerable length of time without requiring renewal of the coil of floss on the spindle 23 or 50.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A dental fioss holder, comprising a handle terminating at one end in a stem, the axis of which coincides with the axis of the handle, the stem being provided at its outer end with attaching `means for attaching one end of a piece of dental floss to the stern, and an arm detachably mounted on the said handle adjacent the base of the said stem and extending at an angle to the stem, the outer end of the arm terminating in a return bend to provide an attaching means for the other end of the piece of dental fioss.

2. A dental floss holder, com rising a handle provided at one end wit an integral stem terminating in a head adapted to be engaged by one end of a piece of dental lioss, the handle having two sockets adjacent thc base of the stem, one of the sockets being approximately parallel to the stem and the other being at an angle thereto and an arm adapted to engage either socket, the arm terminating in a retaining means ada ted to be engaged by the other end of t e said piece of dental floss.

` 3. A dental. oss holder, comprising a handle terminating at one end in a stem, the axis of which coincides with the axis of the handle, the stem being provided at its outer end with attaching means for attaching one endV of a piece of dental floss to the stem. and an arm detachably mounted on the said handle adjacent the base of the said stemand extending at an angle to the stem, the outer end of the arm terminating in a return bend to provide an attachingmeans for the other end of the piece of dental oss, the said handle being provided with a hollow portion and a spindle held removably in the said hollow portion of the handle, the spindle being adapted to carry a coil of dental oss.

4. A dental ioss holder, comprising a handle terminating at one end in a stem, the axis of which coincides with the axis of the handle, the stem being provided at its outer end with attachin means for attaching one end of a piece of ental floss to the stem, and an arm detachablymounted on the said handle adjacent the base of the said stem and extending at an angle t0 the stem, the outer end of the arm terminating in a return bend to provide an attaching means for the other end of the piece of dental Boss, the said handle being provided with a hollow portion and a spindle held removably in the said hollow portion of the handle, the spindle being adapted to carry a coil of dental liess, a guide held on the open end of thel hollow handle portion and provided with an aperture, a slit and a neck for the passage of the dental floss.

5. A dental ioss holder, eolnprising a handle provided at one end withl an integral stem terminating in a head adapted to he engaged hy one end of a piece of dental oss, the handle having two sockets adj aeent the base of the stern, one of the sockets being a proximately parallel to the stem and t e other being at an angle thereto, an arm adapted to engage either socket, the arm terminating in a retaining means adapted to be engaged b. the other end of the said piece of dental oss, and a cap fitting onto the said handle to inclose the said stern and the said arm at the time the latter engages the parallel socket.

6. A dental floss holder', comprising a tubular handle provided at one end with a tubular stem having a retaining lneans2 a spindle held in the said handle and carrying dental floss adapted to be drawn through the said stern to be engaged with the said retaining means, sockets in the said handle ad jacent the base of the said stern, one of the sockets being parallel to the stem and the other at an angle thereto, and an arm detachably engaging either socket and provided at its free end with retaining meansfor the outer end of the dental floss.

LEO JOS-EPH HOGARTY. 

